Kathleen Webber

Kathleen Webber is an Associate Professor of Communication, Journalism, and Film in the Department of Communication Journalism & Film at The College of New Jersey's School of the Arts and Communication. She serves as program coordinator and faculty adviser for The Signal, the student newspaper. With a background in fashion journalism spanning nearly a decade at publications including Women's Wear Daily and W magazine, Webber brings substantial industry experience to her academic role, having joined TCNJ faculty in 2012 after previously teaching as an adjunct at Temple University.

Her educational background includes:

• B.B.A. from Saint Mary's College (Notre Dame, IN)
• M.A. in journalism from New York University (1994)

Professor Webber's research centers on circular solutions for a more sustainable global fashion industry, with particular expertise in textile waste management, environmental justice issues, and reshoring garment manufacturing to the United States. Her work examines the human rights and ecological impacts throughout fashion supply chains, advocating for systemic changes toward circular economy models. She teaches specialized courses including 'The True Cost of Fashion' and climate change communications, reflecting her commitment to educating future journalists about sustainability issues.

Her publication record shows consistent scholarly output with a clear trajectory toward sustainability-focused research, particularly evident in her 2023-2025 publications examining flax cultivation for linen production, textile recycling systems, and domestic manufacturing solutions. Webber successfully bridges academic research with practical industry applications through her articles in both scholarly journals and prominent industry publications like Women's Wear Daily and environmental magazines such as Sierra and Modern Farmer.

Her notable recognitions include:

• The Robert Anderson First-Year Seminar Distinguished Instructor Award (2025)
• Co-recipient of a campus innovation grant to create a Campus as a Living Lab (2023)
• Appointment to the New Jersey Press Association and Foundation board (2023)

Webber actively mentors students through her role as adviser to The Signal and teaches diverse courses including Magazine Writing, Media Ethics, and Digital Journalism. She has secured significant external funding including a Department of Education grant for 'Expanding Access to Climate Change Education' (2024) and an Academic Affairs Innovation Grant (2023). Her service extends beyond campus to Circular Philadelphia's textile task force and the New Jersey Higher Ed Partnership for Sustainability, where she contributes her expertise to regional sustainability initiatives.

Through leadership roles in the Campus as a Living Lab initiative and the Environmental Sustainability Council, Webber has established interdisciplinary collaborations focused on implementing sustainable practices both on campus and in the wider community. Her current work on the 'Ecology of Fashion' exhibit at The Academy of Natural Sciences demonstrates how she connects academic research with public education to address complex sustainability challenges in the fashion industry.